2024 BMW M4 Competition gets 523bhp, ditches rear-wheel drive

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The German sports coupe and convertible gets a facelift but is four-wheel drive only from now on

by Tom Gumbrell

31 Jan 2024

Updates to the exterior and interior
Increase in power to 523bhp
To start from £84,250

You’re looking at the 2024 BMW M4 Competition, following hot on the heels of the facelifted regular BMW 4 Series. Its predecessor’s somewhat polarising design has been subtly tweaked, although the giant kidney grilles remain, and there’s a helping of extra power to bolster the M4’s already superb performance credentials.

Notably absent from the spec sheet for the M4 Competition is a rear-wheel drive variant. Previously the entry point to the M4 Competition range, BMW has decided to drop this model in favour of its xDrive four-wheel drive system. Prices start from £84,250 with first deliveries expected in April.

What’s new for the 2024 BMW M4 Competition?

The exterior of the facelifted BMW M4 Competition is much the same as the outgoing model, with no changes to the sheet metal. Up front, it gets the new LED matrix headlights from the facelifted 4 Series, along with that car’s intricate laser tail-lights which were previously exclusive to the limited-run M4 CSL. The alloy wheels can now be optioned in silver, alongside the existing two-tone finish.

Inside, the only major change to speak of is a redesigned central air vent, surrounded by a new trim piece – carbon fibre is optional. The curved digital display introduced in 2022 remains, now running BMW’s latest operating system with M-specific features. Also new is the steering wheel and its pair of accompanying carbon fibre gearshift paddles.

Under the bonnet, there are no physical changes to the 3.0-litre turbocharged straight-six engine but through software wizardry, BMW M engineers have unlocked an additional 20bhp, raising the total to 523bhp. Despite the extra power, acceleration times remain the same, with the coupe launching from 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds and the heavier convertible only 0.2 seconds behind. While other markets get the non-Competition M4 with a six-speed manual gearbox, the eight-speed automatic is still the only option in the UK.

The biggest departure from the outgoing M4 Competition is the lack of an entry-level rear-wheel drive variant. BMW has removed the cheaper and lighter model from the lineup, instead offering the M4 Competition solely with its xDrive four-wheel drive system. This is unlikely to deter many customers, as xDrive can switch between four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive, while also providing better traction in slippery conditions and quicker acceleration off the line.

How much will the 2024 BMW M4 Competition cost and when can I order one?

The BMW M4 Competition xDrive starts from £84,250. That’s marginally more expensive than the outgoing rear-wheel drive M4 Competition, but is actually around £2,400 cheaper than the equivalent, outgoing M4 Competition xDrive. The convertible variant costs from £88,255. With an extensive and often pricey options list, expect those starting prices to inflate once you’ve selected a few extra niceties.

BMW has scheduled the first deliveries for April. We expect the same tweaks to find their way to the BMW M3 saloon and estate models later this year too.

The BMW M4 will face stiff rivalry from its German competition. Read about the upcoming Mercedes-AMG CLE 53…